Newton-le-Willows Meadows

Also within

North Yorkshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Mesotrophic grassland

Description

Description Newton le Willows Meadows are of special interest for their unimproved neutral grassland of a type that is both rare and threatened at the local and national levels. The nature conservation interest is maintained through hay meadow management without agricultural intensification. Intensive farming methods have become so prevalent that it is estimated that only 3.5 percent of such mesotrophic grassland in the Yorkshire Dales remains with moderately high botanical interest; though this still constitutes a nationally important concentration. In Richmondshire District outside the National Park the figure drops to less than 0.5 percent and Newton le Willows Meadows are one of the largest and most characteristic examples in this latter area. The main grassland community is of interest and comprises the 'crested dog's tail common knapweed' Cynosurus cristatus Centaurea nigra type. The site lies at an altitude of approximately 100 metres above sea level, the two western fields occupy a north facing slope, whilst the larger eastern field lies on essentially flat ground. The grassland community present is typical of traditionally managed hay meadows in the lowlands of England. The meadows support a diverse grassland flora. sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor, red clover Trifolium pratense and pignut Conopodium majus are all abundant, while bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus and meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris also occur frequently. The site also holds many species characteristic of traditionally managed hay meadows. Present throughout the site are bugle Ajuga reptans, common cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata, self heal Prunella vulgaris, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and betony Betonica officinalis. Other species are restricted to only one or two of the three meadows. The largest field, although showing some evidence of partial agricultural improvement, contains meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, hoary plantain Plantago media, lady's bedstraw Galium verum and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba; while the fields to the west support lady's mantle Alchemilla sp. and occasional meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense. cowslip Primula veris, early purple orchid Orchis mascula and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare also occur rarely on the site.

Species mentioned

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities